Adjustable arch support



J. c. HOWELL ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I m I I I INVENTOR Jose h CCJiBweZZ ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1932. J. c. HOWELL ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Joseph CJibweZl ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. V6,- 1932 5 nDJosm LE Anon: SUPPORT: 1 v V a. 1lpplicatiqn 'filed December 8,]1931,Seia1 Ito/579,776.. f 1:

. The present invent-ion relates to ports forifootwean and more-particularly to 7 an arch support which is adjustable to vary the height andcurvatureof the plate to proarches ofthe foot. a t

As the normal foot; of a in standing position has "three principal points of contact with the ground', namely,-the heel,

T the base of the great t0e, and the base of the little toe, and four arches in between these points of contact, namely, the anterior metatarsal arch extendingacrossthe footnnder the metatarsal bones, the inner longitudinal arch extending .jfrom the joint of the great toeto the heel, the outer longitudinal farch extending; from the j oint of the little-toe to the heel,andthe transverse archwhich crosses; p A I U p v 'portlonpfthe upper cutaway to'showfthe thetoot at the instep, the present invention f r has in view the provision ofjgan arch support, with three points" of, adjustment arranged substantially at the center of the several: arches, in'orderto provide the proper v r support therefor and'. .to correct; defects Another object of i the f invention: is the Pr v o a r -s p er ingi Pl e hich is curvedor arched to conform to the natural shapeof theinstepyof a normal foot, and Fi with the rearwardend of'the'plate recessed toacco nmodate the ball of theheelandzwith the forward endzcut awayon e'ach-sideedge to form a forwardextension arranged to unv.

clerl'iethe anterior metatarsal arch substantiallyat the centerthereof i Another ob'ectym view 1 of an archsupporting plate and an inner sole secured thereto extendlng coextensive of'the shoe at the heel ,andaforwardly' of the 1 shoe, underjthe points f'support at the :base ofthe great and littleitoes Still another object in viewflisthe provision of means securedto thee ole of the: shoegtor adjusting the archsupporting plate vfrom without the shoe, saidm eans providing a jpositiveadjnstment of theplate and being provided. with means for locking theaplate 'whenin adjusted position, J

I A. Still-another ob ectof heinventionf is P Y i91%f. W P a eu pertm eedzefil vide the required supporti rfor the several Still other objects reside in ne et'f amis s the; provision] in positionin the shoebut whichperini'tsithe" flexinguand free movementof the-plate atfits 1 dei instill another obj t in view is it vision of an arch support of the ch describedconstructed to ,prevent the ent ance of wateronmoistureirito the 7 points ofadjustment.l-v

of construction andgarrangement of part i Iclaimed hereinafter.

which will be morewfnlly described and:

7 F 1gu;1 e' 1"-is a bottom-plan view f ,1 I having, the improved arch support; Y

F g. 2 isa top plan Iviewlof theshoe a Fig.5 is adetailtopplanfviewof th SQIQ,"

swing the arch i i i therein i and ;s'howing,in dotted lines, the thr i cipal points of support of the normal man foot in standing position andfthe, arches t; 9

tween these'points or; contact;

n In the embodiment of the lnventl n illiisftrated the accompanying drawings, the

vvention is appIied to ashoeifor the right foot; L

ItLis'tobeiinderstood that the'invention is applicable to footwear generally; and "the" parts illustrated applying to. the righttsh oe arethesame-in construction @for'a shoetofbe l -,w0a. -n n 11e leftcfoot withtheexceptionthat the supporting plate-isshapedto conlfoifrnf to the shapelbf the left foot;

f" In carry; g'jout th 'nventio'n,

porting plate 'lO is 'ad'justably" securedtof the V j J vj sole ofthe shoe to support thearche's 'of the I tooto'fthe wearer intherjegionofjthe instep. f p

The st pport 10 israisedor arched longitiidii nally andis provided withja raisedfi'li '1 which is adapted to give supp rt to th eit et t e r e Qf th hit er Y great toe; another pointer adjustment being V said plate is shaped to conform to the natural 1 shape ofthe instep of a normal foot and ism frecessed at its rearward edge, asshown at 12, to accommodate the heel of the .foot, so that theballofthe heel does not bear on the said v are curved to correspond with the curvature of the sole of the shoe, or what is termed the last of the shoe, the lip 11-, here-1m before described, likewise being-curved in this manner. The forward portion 'of the' v 1, said .plateis cut away on each side to provide a forward extension 15 which is positioned to underlie the ball "of the foot. Construct-x L ndth s ner, the said plate provides a l "rsu'pp i 13161 tth l al arches of 'the foot, as

, 's own in ililig; 6, I v w in flThe normal root of a being in. anding position has) three principalj o nts ontact, namely, the heel indicated by, the I 1n Fig.j6, T-the base of the greattoe,

' "theov'als '17 and 18,-and between'these points of cont-act the normal foot has four arches, the anterior metatarsal *arch, indicated in -Fig. 6 by the dot-and-dash line 19, extending across the root under "the metatarsal bones,

the inner longitudinal arch, indicated by the es eem-ashlineextending from the joint of the great toe toth'e heel, the outer 'longitudinalarch; indicated by the; dot anddash line 21";eX-tending-froin the joint of'the';

- little toe to the heel, and the-transverse arch,

1 indicated by the reference numeral'22, which crosses theffoot "at the instep, -The plate 'porti-tofb'e'given to the several'archesyprovision isfinade for raising orlowering jthe V v plateatpoints under the said arches, the said plate being preferably constructed off-spring metal so that substantially any curvature 'mayibeobtained in the'iplate as requ ired. 1 As, shown in -the drawings, the plate-1s made adjustable at a plurality of points, one

' of adjustment being under the inner longitudinal arch substantially midway between the ball of the 'heeliandthe joint of the I ,un'der'the outer-longitudinal arch and sub' stantially midway between: the "ball of the f heel and thejoint of thelittl -1 r transverse archL- A1 third p of adjust *twpad'justments"are in line and under'the a'ment is provided under. the ballffof 'the foot andisli ghtly v inibajck of the oints 'sev} eral toes. I

.20 Adj ustment isobtained at each of the "j 'tlwo'pointsby'turning'ja screw 23, the head 7 24 61?whichpro jeetsjthrough an openingf2 5 a'plate 26;,said'plate'being disposed in a recess in the bottom of,; the outer sole sothat f. the mafia-Ce or said plate is flus'hi with the support. The lateral side edges 13 and' l l' baseof the little'toe, indicated by v (10 constructed "as hereinbefore described, is adapted to give the required'supportj to these arches and'lto correct defects therein, For I the purpose of adjusting'fthe degree ofsupopening 4 4:infthefplate26,f'is adapted teens -gage oneof the threaded openings 45-in the 3 i plate 26 and theffi an'ge genre-tightl drawn togetheriby-theiiVetsAOf-thus reventing V of the plate 10, is=ajn adjustable Inetallicplate under surfaceiof 'thesole. The screW-23is I provided with .anjinteg l {1 27" which is arranged in position in the saidrecess in" the bottom of theouter sole against the inner I; 7

face of the plate 26, the said screw'being threaded to engage the'threaded opening'in a cylindrical sleeve 28. The arrangementof the flange 27in the saidyrecess prevents longitudinal movement of the screw23 when the sameis turned. The. sleeve 28 is provided w'i'tha'collar129Tarched to conform .to

the curvature ofthe plate 10 andwith a tubuQ lar extension? 30 projecting above the said c'ollan; The saidcollar is riveted tothe plate 10 and toan innersole 31' positioned on top 'of 'thesaid' platdbymivets 32fe2itending throu h penings ,3 in the innersole-31 and through opei-iings34 andf35 inithe plate 3-10" and thecoll-ar 29, respectively, ":The'tubiflar eXtension;30 proj'ectsthrough an opening 361 in thejplate '10 "andjthrough an-opening: 37 in the inner sole 31"to lieflushwith the, upper] Surface flierebt These-id sleeve isslicla'bly mounted in atubularfmembeitf38, one end, 7

of which is provided "wi'thra disk-or flange 39 disposedin aIcyl'indrica-l recess in the inner B016 01"; theshoefthe oppo'site'end or thetubu- I e f larmemberbeing'disposedinarecessin the f il'ange' 27 "of the =screw'23'i to hold the screw in posmtn {against the inner surface of the 26. andfopenings 42- V in the icollar '1-"39. This; construction rigidlyf secures the p'late26and I thet'ubular member 88 in thefsole of the'shoe andthescrew 23in position, :wherebytur nmg-the screw by-engagement of apropertool v withflthe head thereofvwill effect a raising or lowering-20f the sleeve 28 with acor sr s'pfondi-n'g adj u'sftinent of theipla'ti'e 10.. When the plate ,10 is adjusted to the elevation ne'- 7 sired, a lo'cfkingfs'crew'43 arranged-in an flange 27 tolockthe 'screwffrom further-turn- I Q i-ng movement, th'usholding the plate inffixed 1 position, It is to be unders'tood that 'the plate-26, The sole ofthe shoe is.-'cutjout-to faccommodate the tubular member 7 38, said 'ftubularineniber beingse mred tothe plate26 l b -rivets40*engagingopenings 41intheg late 1 25 kp1atewplura-1itytf openings '48 'are' provided a forengagementwith theupwardly extending stud 49vtojprovide' ase'ries of adjjustinentsof V fthejplafq'4e blfl the 'collar50 of a cylindr'ical sleeve 51. This "sleeve is slidably'niountedin 1 -1 7 i tems,

a tuhulariinember 52, thhiehjis si riilar in construction to the tubular member"f38 and is I 7 arranged in a icylindricalereces's in the sole of the shoe, the lower end offthe said imeinber and through openings 58in the said flange 59.

j When the sleevefil' is adjusted to the elevation desired, aldcking scr'e 'BO arranged in an opening 61 inthe'plate 55,,is adapted to enter onefof the threaded openings 62in [the "shoulder 53, to lock thescrew 54 against further movement; The collar of the sleeve 51 has its upper surface beveledto correspond with the curvature of the plate 46,

and it is to be understood-thatthe stud49 7 may engage any o'neof the openings 48 in the said plate to provide means for holding the plate 46in various positions. When the plate 46 is in the desired position on the collar 50, the said plate maybe riveted thereto by rivets engaging openings 63 in the collar 50.

A leather covering 64 isprovidedforthe plate 46 as shown in detail in Fig. 5, thiscovering'being riveted tothesaid plateyby rivets 65 vengaging openings 66 inthecover ing 641 and openings '4;8fin the said plate.

' The coveringfi-i beingarranged between the I extension l5 and the plate 46, prevents the forthe anterior metatarsal arch.

forward portionj ofthe plate "10 from Wear; ing contact with the inside soleoi the, Shoe and While supporting the forward. extension 15 the said-extension is free to'fieX whenthe weight of the wearerbears uponfsaid eXtenl-i 40 sion'. Thefsaid plate 46and its supporting and adjusting means hereinbeforedescribed may constitute an independent arch support The sole Within the shoe at the heelis cut out on the curved line 67 tocorrespond to. the recess 12 in the plate 10, sothat the'upper surface off the plate 10 and the heel o t-the shoe form a substantially continuous surface. The inner sole 31 is coextensive of the shoe atthe heel and of said plate and'extends forwardly of saidplate to underlie the ball of the foot and the pointsof support at the that the plate '10, beingformed of spring metahis flexible to a certain extent, andmay i be adjusted in elevationto the required "support for the several. arches of thefootfof the wearer. The adjustments aremade by turning the screws 23 and 54, which willpro' duce a vertical-Inovernentof thefsleeves 28 and 51, respectively, With acorresponding move- 5 'ment' of the plate 10. Thejplate l6 'isalso constituted of spring ineta l and-being'proadapted to l fit into orient the opjeni'ngs formed .by aligning theygroove's taimtne conform to-the anteriormetatars 1 .ia 'noi'malfleftfoot. 12 i if The plate 10 as hereinbefore descn'bed bejusting V the: height 0f side edgethereoztljf- I I I 5.1The'cornbination ofa shoejand anarch o Y Y- support including an archedplate arranged base of the great toe and the base ofthe little .on the inside of the.shoe,th esaid plate h'av tf I i .toe. 'Fromthe foregoing it will beunderstood eat-1 am maligna t areal-a e? t me 47, 1 win conform "toepheshape of; t e arch at theball of thefo'ot'. Before this plate; is adjusted to the dsired-elevatiom a pm. 68

sleeve 51,'vvith the grooves 70 in thebore of the tubular member 52? to I prevent rotary Y movement "of the plate 46.", This plate-is shaped; as sihown in Fig. 5,to-c0nfor1n.tothe shape of the depression of the anterior metatarsal arch-of'a normalTright footi-ltyis foot; the 1 said plate is i'similarly' shaped? to chef-f ing secured adjacentea'ch'j sideedgefto the sole of v 'Inent' oif-th'e' plate" to oneiside {orth'e other,

placedthereup'on- 10mm: a a. 1. The combination of afshoe,-and an arch the shoe,'thus preventing displace j and being unsecured at itsj-"endsg{is free-Ito 1 bend or'fiexWhenthevv eight 'ofthe vveareriis I 596 support including a plate arranged on the 1 Y inside ofthe shoe;me'anssupporting thesaid plate'arrange'd adjacent fe'ach side e'dgef'of; I thesole of the shoe forwardly of the heel i j "and athird support arrengeclinfthe *soiegoiwa the shoe forsuppOrting aidp1atethe 1 bantethe fame The combinati said plate adjacent each-late forwardly-of the heel.

1 Quote shoe;-aiidarch 5 support including a'plate"arranged onthe i It i 10G ing the said plate adjacent each lateral edge there f'anflifi 'adjustably regulatin f h x height df thear'ch of'the platei V I 4. The combination of-ashoe, -andljan aich support including an arched plate; arranged- "on theinside of the shoe, meai'n's secu'redto the f *said plateadjacent each sideedge thereof for supporting the arch of the latqandimeans cooperating With the i first-mentioned rneans extendingthrough the sole or the shoe-jor ad d A the saidlgplate ateach ing its rearwardedgerecesse'd and its side edges at the forward endfcut out-to fori'na'.

forward extension to underlie theball of the foot; and j means secured toljthe edit of the l shoe for supportingthearchiof the plate -and f'i-lfi the said forward extensiong,

suppdrt'including: an" archedg'platearranged 3 on the; inside of the (shoe, the saidrplate; hav

edg sf tthe b wand. ehdi i slim form if forward extension to underlie thezball ofi the,

afoot: and'iadiust m me n ,Se d'to' he so e fil'Ch-of the plate vand the height ofi the. said forwardfextensionv oft e shoe "for, regulating the heightof-the 7, The: combination a shoe, and l 7 support, including an; arched pla fiinatubular member threaded interiorly secured to the said plate adjacent a sidefedge. thereof, a plate secured to'flthe inner sole of, the, shoe, said plate; beingprovided with ,a' tubular. ex,

tension in which the said tubular, nemberlis lslidable, and {a 'sereQw extending inwardly through the sole of the-shoe and engaginggthe.

interior threaded opening in thesaid tuhug larniember,saidserew providing means for dju sting theheightofthe archofthe first- .suppert ineluding anjarched, plate, a tubular member. threaded, interiorly seeuredltov the Q h said plate, a plate securedto the'innenl. sole of the shoe, said plate beingprovided with a tubularextension in whioh the said tubular meniberis slidably mount-ed, a plate secured to the outer sole of the: shoe, and a screwf'pro-v v @Videdwit'h afla-nge adjacent one end thereof,

.50. i V .-tubu1ar-; extension-and in position to engage the interior threaded opening-of the sa d tusa-id flange being arrangedibetween' the said last-mentioned plate and one end of the said fibula-r member to regulate the. height the H -archlof 'thefirst-Inentioned plate: 1

.1 5 Support including plate arched Iongitudi V 1 nallyarranged on the .insideofgthe sheathewa d en :i-Q s id- Plat b in ,Pmv Wfithanextensionirelatively;narrower than e r -9. The comhination'of ashoe, andiail aroh .the, body ofthe plate, saidne -tension being ar'ch'ed to form a continuat ion ofthe a'reh' ;of the saidlplatagand rmeans under thegsaid of Said P ate a d ndenliegthe ball r; p

, .on the vinside ofthe'shoej, ine'an's d to I p the shoe ng: th said t n n said Plate a l c'entjeachiside edge thereof f0! 7 and regulating the height ligh 7 e 12o 11." The combinationof-a shoe,and an arch egulating the height a J 10. The-combination of a time, anid ianj-a rch arched to form a continuation off-thearch e the, foot, and means; arranged in the sole of 1 support including a plate a-rehed longitudi nally arranged on the inside of the shoe, the

' v forwardi"end=oflsaid. plate being provided 110" with an [extension relatively narrower "than the body of the plate, aiplatef disp ose'd beneath u thesaid extension, a tubularm'ember threaded filnteriorly to l which" the last-mentioned plate a is secured, i a; tubular .Ine n'ber. secured in anv ripening, in the shoe sole in whicl itlie Sa d extension. :14; The combination of ajshoe, andan arch p ewes?? first-mentioned; tubular ;-member slidable, and a screw 1 extending inwardly through v V e the sole 0f the shoe and engagingthe interior threaded opening in the first m'eiitionedfl tiie bular' ineinber, providing means for adjust ing thevheight'o f the first-mentioned tubular member and the said extension. g

1 12'. The coinb'nationfof a shoe, and an ltively narrower than the; body ofj the "plate,

a plate securedtonthe innerrsole of-ftheQ shoe, said platebeing providedwith atuhular ex; tension arranged in an;Ope'Qning in the shoe sole, 'a plate seeured' to thefi'outerisole V of the sh0e,,a screwpmvidedwith flange adjaf ecent "one lend thereof,saidlflange being. anranged between the said last-mentionedplate and'the end of the said"tubulari jextension, and fc'o oper-ati'ng'nieansflengageablewith the said screw" for i regulating-- thef height ofithesaid reward extension.

The domination of.ashoegand-antarehr support including" an arched plate, a tubular ir support including a plate arranged 9n the nside of theshoe, the for-ward end ofsal d' plate beingprovidedfwith an extension relai member threaded interiorly, secured to the said" plate, a platesec'ur edjto I-theinner'csole ,of the shoe, ,said plate being provided with a tubular extension in which the said" tubular to the outer sole" of the shoe, 'a screw 'pr0 vi'ded with a flange adjacent one "end' thereo'ff 1 said flange being; arranged 'betweenthe said i i: .last mentioned plateland one endofithe Said I tubular extension landl'in posi'tion toweilgage lQ Qi the interior threaded ppeuing 'of 'the -'said tubular; member 't'ofregulate the height-of. Y "tliue-jm"eh "of the fir st"-1nentione.d plate,

me nheriis' slidably mounted, a plate secured means tightly securing the plates on tjhe' inlsideisole Iof the zshoe and on the outside{sole of the shoe t gether to prevent j entrance of pp r i ludin a la e rr ged n th Water at moisture, through f the saidtubular a inside of the shoe, said pl'ate being freely sfupported at i't-sfendse' and means seeured to said plate substantially pentr'ally thereof 1 adj aeent each sidef edge securely "fastening V the. said plate to the sole of the shoe; u j i ll he i om a on 0f 'sho y n marsh support including; an arched plate-"arranged out the shoe to L16;,TheleombinatioriWithafs'iioe drri iiiiiigr" article, of ante-r ch suppo rt;disposed;therein v apl ra' tyf c lla r ang d J ea i nthe und r sid Qfi S id finc uppp a:m ws-9R6? able from the exterior of the shoe for raising having an extension on one side ,thereofiar: or lowering said collars to'adjust the position ranged to receive the extension of the said I of the arch support, said means comprising collar, a screwhavingathreadedportion ar-h I a screw, a threaded portion secured to each ranged to engage the threaded portion offsaid collar and arranged to receive the screw, and Supporting member, [said 'screwf beingfjp'roj means for preventing the rotation-of the said Videdwith a flange, a headon the opposite collar when the screw is turned. sideof theflange from the threadedportion,

17 An arch adjusting member comprising a plate having an opening arranged to receive v. I a collar, a cylindrical portion integral with the head of'the screw, and means for 'pre-Q the collar and being "threaded internally, a Venting the rotation oftjhe. collar with respect ,75' J screwhavingathreaded portionfarranged to o the flangew l V I JOSE-PH onowE n.

enter said threaded cylindrical portionand beingprovided with a flange adjacent to the head of the screw, and a plate having an open- A ing arranged to receive the head and tobear I I against theflange'. 1' V a j 1 18. An arch adjusting member comprising a collar, a cylindrical portion integral with the collar and being threaded internally, a a

screw having a -threadedportion arrange to enter-said threaded cylindricalporti'on-and being provided with a flange adjacent to the head of the screw, a plate" having an opening arranged to receive the head and to bear I V 1 a t I V I I V v against the flange, said plate being provided a I 1 90 with openings, and means for securing the a j V l i plate to the bottom ofa shoe or similar article. I e a 19. The combination with a shoe or similar 6 article, an arch support therefor, a cylindri- I j fe j 95 a cal member threaded internally secured to said arch support, a screw having a portion arranged toienter said cylindrical member, I

said screw having its head disposed inthe 3 S016 Ofthe shoe flush withthe bottom thereof ,I 3 I m and operablefrom' the exterior ofthe shoe to I ,7 raise or lower the'arch support, and means for preventing the longitudinal movement of the screw when it is turned. i

' 20. The combination with a shoe orsimilar l I 105 I article, an arch support therefor, a cylindrical member threaded internallysecured to I saidarch support, a screw'having a portion arranged to enter saidcylindric'al member,

4asaid screwhavingitshead disposed inthe sole I I j i I j iii of the shoe flush with the bottom thereof,1

j lindrical'member when thescrew is turned. i '5 i 1 means for preventing the longitudinal movement of the screw When it turned, and means for preventing the rotation of the cy- 21. 'An'adjusting device for arch supports 7 V comprising a collar having a threaded cylindrical extension onone side thereof, a flange having an extension'on one side there-.

' of arranged to receive the extension of the j a 1 7 n j 1 12;:

said collar, a screw having a threaded portion arranged to engagethe threaded portion of said collar, said screw being provided with a-flange, and a head onthe'opposite side of l the flange from the threaded portion, and a I I i ,j I ,5!

plate having an openingarranged to'receive the headof the screw. 7 a I 2'2. Anadjusting device for arch supports comprlsing a collar having a threaded cylin drical extension on one side thereoflaflange I 

